MANILA: THE Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday, August 30, filed charges against a 68-year old Chinese-American for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than two kilos of cocaine into the country.
The suspect, identified as Alan Soo Hoo of New York, was arrested last Sunday, August 28, at the Clark International Airport (CRK). He is now in the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Soo Hoo allegedly violated Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, a non-bailable offense with a fine of P500,000 to P10 million.
Airport personnel discovered 2.4 kilograms of contraband hidden in a secret compartment of Soo Hoo’s bag when it went through an X-ray machine at the Customs clearance. The PDEA confirmed that the cocaine has a street value of up to P18 million.
“For being a drug mule, his presence here poses a serious threat to our youth. He should be expelled, blacklisted and banned from re-entering our country,” BI commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement. Morente noted that Soo Hoo will not be deported yet due to his criminal charges but added that the BI will soon be issuing the order for Soo Hoo’s summary deportation.
“If he is convicted, he should first serve his jail sentence after which we will deport him and place him in our blacklist,” the BI chief said. Soo Hoo took Emirates flight EK 338 from Dubai and arrived at CRK after a stopover in Cebu on the night of Sunday, August 28. It was reportedly his first time to disembark in the Philippines. The American citizen is an accountant who works for small companies in the United States, according to a report by Inquirer.
According to BI spokesperson Atty Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, the United States Department of Homeland Security alerted BI intelligence officials of Soo Hoo’s impending arrival in the country. The BI subsequently tipped the PDEA and Customs agents after confirming that Soo Hoo was aboard the flight, leading to his arrest.
